Life in Japan Galleries

Friends in Japan : The following are pictures of our friends (and adopted family) in Japan on various occassions that don't merit a whole gallery of their own.

Friends in Japan

The following are pictures of our friends (and adopted family) in Japa ...

Updated: Dec 31, 2007 6:17am PST

Jeana Cell Phone Update :

Jeana Cell Phone Update

Updated: Dec 28, 2007 2:27pm PST

Fukushima Acquarium :

Fukushima Acquarium

Updated: Dec 28, 2007 2:04pm PST

Sokyu Genyu Monk Author of Miharu :

Sokyu Genyu Monk Author of Miharu

Updated: Dec 28, 2007 1:55pm PST

Life in Miyagi Prefecture :

Life in Miyagi Prefecture

Updated: Dec 28, 2007 1:52pm PST

Halloween in Japan : Here are some photos of Kevin and friends at Halloween. Kevin got the cool Light Brite Pumpkin set from his Aunt Mary and Aunt Jenny. Kevin as Harry Potter and Kevin as Neo (The Matrix) were both very cool, don't you think?

Halloween in Japan

Here are some photos of Kevin and friends at Halloween. Kevin got the ...

Updated: Dec 28, 2007 1:47pm PST

Miharu Rotary Parties : The Miharu Rotary does the craziest things at Xmas! The members and their wives always put on a special show for Xmas. Mr. Nagai as a Geisha? Wow!

Miharu Rotary Parties

The Miharu Rotary does the craziest things at Xmas! The members and t ...

Updated: Dec 28, 2007 5:39am PST

Chris and Yohei Wedding : My friend Christelle got married in Japan in Spring 2007 at a Buddhist Temple. Look how gorgeous a couple they make. Her darling is Yohei. She used her own hair to do the geisha hairstyle. Beautiful wedding.

Chris and Yohei Wedding

My friend Christelle got married in Japan in Spring 2007 at a Buddhist ...

Updated: Dec 28, 2007 5:29am PST

Daruma Market in Miharu : What's to eat at the Annual Miharu Daruma Fair? Lots of great Japanese FESTIVAL foods. You gotta check it out. Looks hinky, but it's ALL delicious and MUCH healthier than that junk food you get at American street festivals and fairs.

Daruma Market in Miharu

What's to eat at the Annual Miharu Daruma Fair? Lots of great Japanes ...

Updated: Feb 13, 2007 5:36am PST

Family Xmas in Japan : Pictures of our Family Xmases in Japan.

Family Xmas in Japan

Pictures of our Family Xmases in Japan.

Updated: Feb 02, 2007 2:24am PST

Jeana's Portfolio : These are jpgs of posters I have made while living in Miharu.

Jeana's Portfolio

These are jpgs of posters I have made while living in Miharu.

Updated: Jan 09, 2007 6:04am PST

Miharu Xmas Spirit : The rest of Oh-machi, my neighborhood in Miharu, finally decided to join in the fun and string up CHRISTMAS lights. There was hardly a store without SOME lights. It really felt like Christmas in Miharu this year! Thanks guys!

Miharu Xmas Spirit

The rest of Oh-machi, my neighborhood in Miharu, finally decided to jo ...

Updated: Jan 04, 2007 3:30am PST

Christmas at RLH Misc : Some shots of the RLH decorated for Xmas

Christmas at RLH Misc

Some shots of the RLH decorated for Xmas

Updated: Jan 01, 2007 12:31am PST

Rice Lake House Shots : This is the Rice Lake International House in Miharu, Japan. This is the place where Kevin and I lived from August 2000 til spring of 2007. I was the live-in "manager" of this American-style bed and breakfast in a small town in Japan about 3 hours north of Tokyo in the beautiful heartland of Fukushima Prefecture. I worked for the local Board of Education and a local International Association. I planned parties and events for the House. In the 8 years BEFORE I became manager the place was in the RED because the other guest managers from the US were not allowed to try much of anything new. They were never given a budget for anything, and any time they wanted to try something, they were told there was "no money". They also didn't speak Japanese so it was rather hard for them to explain their ideas. They tried, but no one would listen. Luckily for them, I speak Japanese pretty well, and don't need anyone to listen, I just get the job done. We were in the black within 6 months, and for the following 3 years. Then hurricane Naoko hit and I was told to "not do anything without explicit permission of the Board", which made actually planning and carrying out any events difficult, since the Board didn't actually ever MEET except once every 3 months or so. And even then they never wanted to discuss actual business. Of course, my staff and I, and Board Secretary continued to meet every month, as we had always done, and came up with ideas and scheduled events, as we had always done, but the new President (Naoko I.) failed to approve ANY of our plans, and unless we screamed and hollered for permission, we were roadbloacked! After two years of fighting for permission for every damn thing, I decided to do nothing until I was told to (as I had been told to do for 2 years by Naoko), and we began the year and half when there was NOTHING! Even English Conversation classes came to an end. And to everyone's SURPRISE (except mine and every other reasonably intelligent person on the planet, of course) suddenly the House was bad in the RED - they couldn't pay the bills...... So NOW the President Nitwit (Naoko I.) and her stooge (Hiroko Y.) turns to me and ask "WHY ISN'T THERE ANY MONEY?" "WHY AREN'T YOU TEACHING ENGLISH?" and "WHY ARE YOU IN SUCH A BAD MOOD?" Gosh, I wonder. "I'm just following your orders!" Once confronted with their own stupidity, they did what any reasonable intelligent person would do - admit the error of their ways, apologize, and establish new guidelines and procedures to return the Rice Lake House to its full glory....... Oops! Wait! That is so NOT the way it happened..... Once confronted with their stupidity, they did what any reasonable intelligent Japanese person would do - blame the foreigner for everything and continue the same old crappy LACK OF management that got them into trouble in the first place, AND THEN (and here's the topper) appeal to the Local Government for money to BAIL THEM OUT. And guess what? The government is giving it to them! $30,000 next year alone. Hey, why actually do any work when people will give you money for doing nothing????? So, Naoko gets a nice big BONUS from the Miharu town budget, and I get SACKED! Am I bitter? Oh, HELL YES!

Rice Lake House Shots

This is the Rice Lake International House in Miharu, Japan. This is t ...

Updated: Dec 31, 2006 1:04am PST

Beautiful Old Japanese Towns : In Nov of 2004 MIFA after the overnight at British Hills, we drove north towards Aizu and visited this town with LOTS of OLD Japanese farm houses. Beautiful drive, gorgeous old houses. Good Soba!

Beautiful Old Japanese Towns

In Nov of 2004 MIFA after the overnight at British Hills, we drove nor ...

Updated: Dec 30, 2006 10:15pm PST

Ikebana Club at Mahora : These are photos of the flower arrangements done by the members of the flower arrangement clubs in Miharu. There are three different flower arrangement schools represented here. I can't tell the difference. Can you? I just like to look at them all, so I thought I would share them with all of you who couldn't make it to Miharu for the Fall Culture Festival this year. LOL! Enjoy! Look carefully at no. 14 (There is a LIVE lady bug on a leaf. Can you find it?) Which is your favorite? Use the comment button to share your favorite with our other visitors.

Ikebana Club at Mahora

These are photos of the flower arrangements done by the members of the ...

Updated: Dec 26, 2006 9:24pm PST

Dr. Koyama Memorial Gallery : Dr. Atsushi Koyama was one of the greatest men I ever knew. Hardly spoke a word of English but was the heart and soul and anchor for all of us foreign teachers in Miharu for 20 years! We miss you man!

Dr. Koyama Memorial Gallery

Dr. Atsushi Koyama was one of the greatest men I ever knew. Hardly sp ...

Updated: Dec 09, 2006 3:13am PST

Kevin in Kimono : In Japan, when kids turn 3, 5 or 7, they are taken to temple in traditional Japanese wear to be blessed (or something like that). We didn't go to temple, but the summer before Kevin turned 8, I splurged and got this picture taken of him in Kimono. He insisted on the poses himself.

Kevin in Kimono

In Japan, when kids turn 3, 5 or 7, they are taken to temple in tradit ...

Updated: Nov 26, 2006 3:45am PST

Miho's Wedding : These are photos that Alaine took at Miho's wedding. Miho is the daughter of our friend Kazue Morijiri. It was in the Spring of 2004 - in Utsunomiya, Japan. This was an expensive (but typical) Japanese wedding of a contemporary young couple.

Miho's Wedding

These are photos that Alaine took at Miho's wedding. Miho is the daug ...

Updated: May 21, 2006 6:14am PST

Making Mochi at Ogisawa : Fall 2005, the people of Ogisawa area got together to make Mochi - pounded rice.

Making Mochi at Ogisawa

Fall 2005, the people of Ogisawa area got together to make Mochi - pou ...

Updated: Feb 06, 2006 3:59pm PST

Japanese Drums Fall 2005 : Omokishi in the Fall of 2005 was inside because of RAIN! Still it was fun!

Japanese Drums Fall 2005

Omokishi in the Fall of 2005 was inside because of RAIN! Still it was ...

Updated: Feb 06, 2006 3:50pm PST

Nikolas and Daniel in Miharu Spring 2005 : Twin brothers from Slovakia, spring of 2005, studied pottery. Daniel and Nicolas were nice to have around.

Nikolas and Daniel in Miharu Spring 2005

Twin brothers from Slovakia, spring of 2005, studied pottery. Daniel ...

Updated: Feb 06, 2006 6:14am PST

Masahiro's Wedding Dec 2005 : My friend, Masahiro, got married in December. Japanese weddings are cool!

Masahiro's Wedding Dec 2005

My friend, Masahiro, got married in December. Japanese weddings are c ...

Updated: Feb 02, 2006 6:29am PST

Skiing in Fukushima : Winter 2006, Kevin was back on the slopes after two years of high fevers and colds or poor weather that kept us away. So, here he is learning to ski again!

Skiing in Fukushima

Winter 2006, Kevin was back on the slopes after two years of high feve ...

Updated: Feb 02, 2006 6:25am PST

Hawaii with Grandma 2001

In 2001 Kevin and I met with my mother in Hawaii. Mrs. Muto and Ruiko ...

Updated: Jan 09, 2006 2:38am PST

Furiai Bokujo (Friendly Farm) 2002 : There is a lovely "farm" on the Western side of Koriyama near Atami onsen (hot spring) which has many different kinds of bikes you can rent (cheap) , and a little petting zoo of farm animals for the kids. The Spring Lawn Sakura were beautiful! We had a lot of fun!

Furiai Bokujo (Friendly Farm) 2002

There is a lovely "farm" on the Western side of Koriyama near Atami on ...

Updated: Oct 10, 2004 7:45am PST